Method of knitting



June 1-7, 1941 E. sT. PIERRE.

` METHOD oF KN'ITTING Filed DeO. 19, 1938 Flc, z

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Patented June 17, 1941 Eugene St. Pierre, Pawtucket, R.. I., assignor to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, B.. I., a cor. poration oi' Massachusetts Application-December 19, 193s, serial No. 246,580

(ci. ss-.41)

6 Claims.

This case involves a method of knitting and a stocking top in which an elastic yarn is incorporated along with a so-called plain .yarn or yarns.

In the figures of drawing: v

Fig. 1y is an elevation show-lng a half hose in which a top is conventionally shown knitted in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a conventional view of a section of fabric, greatly enlarged, and showing several courses at the beginning ofthe `stocking` top.

lIn knitting simulatedrib stocking tops with elastic yarn incorporated -therein for rendering the stocking self-supporting and for other purposes, the initial course commonly has anelastic yarn passing through certain loops such as through the sinker loops, for example, to render) the edge fast against ravelling. A common difficulty experienced with these tops is that they flare outwardly tending to curl at the topmost portion and in some instances, do not present the most pleasing or satisfactory appearance.

As described in the present case, the elastic yarn is incorporated in .accordance with one form'of the invention, by knitting the same at an auxiliary feed and on every other needle. A plain or non-elasticV yarn, so-called, is to ibe knitted at a second feeding stationA and will. throughout the greater part of the stocking top,- be knitted on all needles or in all wales. However, if for the first few courses the said plain yarn is tucked on certain needles as on intermediate needles, it has been found that a more satisfactory top will result, both from the point of view of appearance and stretch characteristics, and that furthermore, the edge will be to a clearing and incidentally a yarn vtaking position.

Probably the best way of describing the characteristics of the top and method of producing the same is to explain themanner in which each individual course of the fabric, Fig. 2, is constructed and the operation of the machine in- The top is preferably knitted to simulate a rib* appearance and to provide sufficient elasticity 'for garter purposes in accordance with the more resistant to curling than if constructed in accordancewith principles heretofore prevailing.

While not necessarily being knitted on a machine having two separate feeding stations, one preferred form of the invention will be practiced by employing a machine having a main feeding station, an auxiliary feeding station and jacks under alternate needles having selective butts by means of which those needlesmay be raised to a yarn taking and latch clearing position at the auxiliary feeding station..A At that station a knitting cam will draw -needles through a path satisfactory for purposes of stitch drawing. At the main feeding station the usual cams are to be employed and the front stitch cam is to be capable of moving to inactive position at desired times. A similar, Jack selecting or needle dividing cam. functions in advance of the front stitch cam and raises needles individual to the jacks method disclosed in United States Patent #2,131,720. The beginning edge which involves `the first fewcourses is to be constructed inl accordance with what is illustrated in Fig. 2 and described in this case.

At the start of knitting no yarn is .being fed vat the main feeding station and at thev auxiliary feed, an elastic yarn is to be fed for two courses and to alternate needles. The needles are to be raised for taking this elastic yarn by selection involving jacks and a. dividing cam as above explained, and as more thoroughly described in the patent mentioned above and in co-pending application Serial #243,914, filed December 5, 1938. Intermediate needles do not rise to a height sufficient to take this elastic yarn. The

elastic yarn indicated at 'I will be temporarilyl drawn into loops in course A, but since .there were no previously drawn loops on the needles and since no yarn is fed at the main side of the machine, needles will rise above the front stitch cam, clearing the latches, and as they pass under the back stitch cam, will knit off the elastic Just taken. On the second revolution of the machine those same needles will take the elastic yarn again as in the course illustrated at B, and prior to reaching the main side of the machine, a so-called plain yarn such as cotton, silk or the like will be thrown into action; also, the needle dividing cam or jack cam at .that side of the machine will move in to butt engaging position while the front stitch cam will be withdrawn. At that side of the machine, all needles will be moved high enough to take yarn, but only alternate needles will clear their latches. 'I'he result of this is that alternate needles will draw loops yoi.' plain yarn l through the elastic yarn loops Just drawn at the auxiliary side. The intermediate needles will take yarn, but since there was nothing on those needles it will not be drawn through other stitches. This constitutes the knitting of course C. The machine set up now drawn at the auxiliary side and through the lastv drawn plain yarn loops 8. The intermediate needles do not take the elastic as before, but merely retain their loops 9 of plain yarn.

At the main side course E will be knitted similar to course C, the alternate needles drawing loops through the elastic at that side while the intermediate needles take other loops Il in additiontto the loops I already held. In the next revolution of the machine elastic yarn is again taken by the alternate needles at the auxiliary side, is knitted, and the last drawn plain yarn stitches are cast ofi. 'This course is shown at F. The machine makes another move at this time and the front stitch cam will move to activevposition while the jack cam at that side may be withdrawn. Course G will be knitted from the plain yarn, all needles taking the yarn and immediately drawing loops therefrom. At .this time, the front stitch cam will resume its usual function of clearing all needles prior to their taking yarn so that the accumulated loops l and Il will be knitted off as other plain yarn loops are drawn through them.

From this point courses are knitted wherein -the elastic is fed at the auxiliary side, knitting on every other needle whilethe plain yarn feeds at the main side and knits on every needle. This is in accordance with the disclosure in United States Patent #2,131,720 and the remaining fabric throughout the top may be knitted in this fashion.

While the fabric in Fig. 2 is conventionally shown so that a clear understanding of the man- I nergof knitting may be gained, it is to be under'- stood that the elastic is fed 'under some tension and that elastic loops tend to draw up or contract to a certain degree. 'Ihis results in imparting a. rib appearance to the fabric as disclosed in the said patent. 'Ihe first course of elastic A which was cast from the needles will be cut away and course B, when contracted, will appear as threaded through sinker loops of the first plain course C. The edge of the fabric is great- 1y strengthened by the plain yarn tuck loops and tends to remain straight rather than to flare or fcurl. The fact that knitting the elastic into individual stitches and that the elastic is knitted under a slight tension results in a fabric which is not excessively tight so that the few courses at the beginning edgein which tuck stitches are knitted serves very effectively to maintain the edge straight and to prevent curling. The

tuck stitches as shown constitute two held loops. It is to be understood that the tuck may be varied and that in some instances more or a lesser number of held loops may be used. The invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. l

I claim: l. A method of incorporating elastic yarn at the beginning edge of a stocking topincluding the steps of feeding elastic yarn to needles and incorporating it in suchga manner that it will be held at spaced wales only, and at the same time, feeding a non-elastic yarn and knitting it in courses intervening those in which thel elastic yarn is incorporated and in such a waythat it will be'knitted in the spaced wales at which the elastic yarnis held but will be tucked at intervening wales. y

` 2. A method of incorporating an elastic yarn in the beginning edge of a stocking top including the steps of feeding said elastic yarn to be taken within the hooks of and to be knitted'by alternate needles only, and at courses intervening those in which the elastic yarn is knitted,feeding a non-elastic yarn to be knitted on said alternate needles and to be tuckedl over a plurality of courses on intermediate needles.

3.l A method of incorporating an elastic yarn at the beginning edge of a knitted lfabric including the steps of feeding said elastic yarn to the hooks of and knitting it upon spaced needles and at spaced courses, feeding a non-elastic yarn and a non-elastic yarn at the beginning edge of a knitted fabric to strengthen the edge and render it resistant against curling, including the steps of feeding'an elastic yarn. and `knitting it on alternate needles only and simultaneously, at a separate feeding station, feedinga non-elastic yarn to all needles and knitting it on alternate needles while tucking on intermediate needles, and-continuing this for a plurality of courses until a curlresistant edge has been built up.

5. A method of incorporating elastic yarn at the beginning edge of a knitted fabric and ina manner to prevent curling at said edge, including the knitting of a plurality of courses by feeding andknitting an elastic yarn on alternate needlesonly at a feeding and knitting point, and simultaneously therewith, feeding a plain or non-elastic yarn at another knitting point and knitting it through elastic yarn stitches drawn at the ilrst mentioned knitting point but tucking it at intermediate wales.

6. A method of incorporating an elastic y at the beginning edge of a stocking 150D including the following steps; feeding and knitting the elastic yarn on alternate needles, then feeding a non-elastic yarn to all needles and knitting on elastic yarn stitches previously-drawn, then knitting another course of elastic yarn `by feeding and knitting' it on the same or alternate needles while retaining the non-elastic yarn stitches on intermediate needles. again feeding ya, nonlelastic yarn to all needles and knitting olf the c needles 'and thereafter. drawi and knitting a course of non-elastic'yarn and casting oi! previously held loops.l

EUGENE ST. PIERRE. 

